Low volley or Half volley? That is the question.

[kevhen]

For me being tall with a bad back and some knee soreness, I find myself hitting half volleys where the ball bounces by my side or even behind me instead of bending down and taking the ball in the air. I don't even look at the ball since it is behind me anyway but just hold my arm and racquet back behind and somehow those half volleys find their way over the net, maybe since they are on the rise and coming off the strings at a steep angle despite the closed racquet face. Do other people ever do this? It's a weird sensation since I am looking straight ahead and hitting a ball behind me but it seems to work and I do it enough that it's well practiced and dependable. Does anyone else do this or do you all just bend those knees and hit low volleys? At what point should you hit a half volley instead of a volley? Only when the ball bounces in front of you?

 

[Momo]

I think half-volleys are pretty fun. Just don't try to half volley a sliced shot. I have a hitting partner who hits with a very clean, consistent topspin. Those are great to half-volley. Just aim the shot and the ball will basically fuel the power itself. If the ball is coming in really soft without much juice, you probably want to low-volley it to supply some pace, whereas I find it hard to actually add much power to a half-volley. (I usually hit half volleys as cross court drop shots, usually if I approach the net, but dont get close enough to get a strong volley in and the opponent hits me low ball.)

 

[kevhen]

Yes, I don't recall too many successful half vollies against incoming slice, usually slice shots float longer so you can volley them but topspinners dip quickly and there is more need to half-volley them. I don't hit my half-volleys hard at all, mostly just block them back and try to keep them low to the net and away from the netman. Half volleys in singles are not as effective since your opponent usually gets a good look at a pass when you have to hit a softer half volley shot instead of a deep low volley. I think hitting half volleys in doubles is alot of fun though and I amaze myself in some of the balls I do get back this way.